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Forest and woodland: breeding birds and butterflies

Woodland butterflies have declined sharply since 1950 and this trend continues today. The changes in woodland birds are less dramatic.

Trends in breeding birds


On average, birds characteristic of woodland on sandy soils were as numerous in 1990 as they were around 1950. Some species have increased, however, including the buzzard, goshawk and certain woodpeckers. Since 1990 the group of woodland birds has declined somewhat, partly because of a decline in the wood warbler, turtle dove and bullfinch. The causes of the decline are not clear, though acidification and water draw-down may play a role.

Trends in butterflies


On average, there are far fewer characteristic woodland butterfly species on sandy soil than there were in 1950. This is mainly because some species, such as the silver-washed fritillary, have become extinct in the Netherlands. Since 1992 the number of species in decline has exceeded the number of species increasing, and the group as a whole is declining even more. One of the causes of this is the canopy closure of forests, which results in the dwindling of clearings. For many butterflies the management of forest margins is of crucial importance. This involves ensuring that there is a gradual transition from forest to heathland or other vegetation.

  • Breeding birds: nuthatch (increase), wood lark (increase), hobby (decrease), buzzard (increase), wryneck (more or less stable), wood warbler (decrease), redstart (more or less stable), marsh tit (more or less stable), bullfinch (stable), green woodpecker (decrease), great spotted woodpecker (increase), mistle thrush (decrease), goshawk (more or less stable), woodcock (increase), nightingale (no clear trend), honey buzzard (more or less stable), golden oriole (decrease), turtle dove (decrease), black woodpecker (decrease).
  • Butterflies: chequered skipper (more or less stable), speckled wood (increase), holly blue (increase), meadow brown (increase), Ilex hairstreak (decrease), brimstone (decrease), purple hairstreak (decrease), small skipper (decrease), comma (decrease), green hair streak (decrease), large skipper (no clear trend), black-veined white (disappeared), large tortoiseshell (disappeared) silver-washed fritillary (disappeared), white admiral (decrease), ringlet (more or less stable), map (more or less stable), hedge brown (decrease), orange-tip (decrease), Camberwell beauty (disappeared), large chequered skipper (decrease), false heath fritillary (disappeared), scarce heath (disappeared), pearl-bordered fritillary (disappeared).

Technical note


The data are from the Ecological Monitoring Network's national butterfly monitoring network.

References


  • Dijk, A.J. van, L. Dijksen, F. Hustings, D. Zoetebier en C. Plate (2001). Broedvogelmonitoring Project. Jaarverslag 1998-99. SOVON-rapport 2001/03. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland Beek-Ubbergen.
  • Dijk, A.J. van, M.J.T. van der Weide, R. Kleefstra, D. Zoetebier en C. Plate (2001). Kolonievogels en zeldzame broedvogels in Nederland in 1999. SOVON-monitoringrapport 2001/08. SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland. Beek-Ubbergen.
  • Swaay, C. van, R. Ketelaar en D. Groenendijk (2002). Dagvlinders en libellen onder de meetlat: jaarverslag 2001. Rapport VS2002.010. De Vlinderstichting. Wageningen.
  • Veling, K. (1999). Herstelplan dagvlinders 1999-2002. Rapport VS 98.06. De Vlinderstichting. Wageningen.

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This page was last changed on 04 May 2004  (version 01).